Editing Hunlock Township, Pennsylvania

{{short description|Township in Pennsylvania, US}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Hunlock Township, Pennsylvania
|settlement_type = [[Township (Pennsylvania)|Township]]
|nickname = 
|motto = 
|image_skyline = Hunlock Creek looking upstream.JPG 
|imagesize = 200px
|image_caption = [[Hunlock Creek]], a major creek in Hunlock Township
|image_flag = 
|image_seal = 
|image_map = Map of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Highlighting Hunlock Township.PNG
|mapsize = 250x200px
|map_caption = Map of Luzerne County highlighting Hunlock Township
|image_map1 = Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County.svg
|mapsize1 = 250x200px
|map_caption1 = Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County
<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Pennsylvania]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[List of counties in Pennsylvania|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne]]
|government_footnotes = 
|government_type = 
|leader_title = 
|leader_name = 
|leader_title1 = 
|leader_name1 = 
|leader_title2 = 
|leader_name2 = 
|established_title = Settled
|established_date = 
|established_title1 = Incorporated
|established_date1 = 
|unit_pref = Imperial
|area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2016">{{cite web|title=2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_42.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 14, 2017}}</ref>
|area_magnitude = 
|area_total_km2 = 54.08
|area_land_km2 = 53.45
|area_water_km2 = 0.63
|area_total_sq_mi = 20.88
|area_land_sq_mi = 20.64
|area_water_sq_mi = 0.24
|population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021">{{cite web |title=City and Town Population Totals: 2020—2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-total-cities-and-towns.html |website=Census.gov |publisher=US Census Bureau |access-date=August 4, 2022}}</ref>
|population_total = 2215 {{decrease}}
|population_density_km2 = 45.05
|population_density_sq_mi = 116.68
|timezone = [[North American Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|postal_code_type = 
|postal_code = 
|area_code = 
|website = 
|footnotes = 
|pop_est_as_of = 2021
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|population_est = 2218
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
|blank_info = 42-079-36296
}}

'''Hunlock Township''' is a [[Township (Pennsylvania)|township]] in [[Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Luzerne County]], [[Pennsylvania]], United States. The population was 2,215 at the 2020 census.<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>

==History==
It is believed that the first white settler was named “Boggs,” who constructed a [[log cabin]] in modern-day Hunlock Township. “Boggs” joined the [[Patriot (American Revolution)|Patriots]] during the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]]. It's speculated that while he was away from home, his family was either driven away or massacred by the [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] living within the region.<ref name="pagenweb.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.pagenweb.org/~luzerne/patk/hunlocktwp.htm|title=HUNLOCK TOWNSHIP|website=www.pagenweb.org}}</ref>

In 1778, Edward Blanchard and Jonathan Hunlock settled near the mouth of [[Hunlock Creek]]. They did not have their families with them; in 1790, they returned to their old homes. Future settlers to modern-day Hunlock Township were [[lumberjacks]], who built [[saw mills]] in the territory. Additional settlers built [[gristmills]] and a [[smelting]] [[Metallurgical furnace|furnace]].<ref name="pagenweb.org"/>

Hunlock Township, which was named after Jonathan Hunlock, was organized on January 8, 1877; the territory was carved out of [[Union Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Union]] and [[Plymouth Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania|Plymouth]] Townships. When the township was formed, it had a population of 759.<ref name="pagenweb.org"/>

==Geography==
[[File:Hunlock Creek looking downstream.JPG|thumb|left|180px|[[Hunlock Creek]]]]
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the township has a total area of {{convert|54.1|km2|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|53.5|km2|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.6|km2|disp=flip}}, or 1.17%, is water. The [[Susquehanna River]] forms the southeastern border of the township. Elevations in the township range from {{convert|520|ft}} above sea level along the Susquehanna River, to over {{convert|1440|ft}} along Shickshinny Mountain, overlooking the river.

Thick forests make up most of the township. [[Farmland|Farms]] are scattered throughout the community. The [[Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania|Village of Hunlock Creek]] is located near the Susquehanna River. [[U.S. Route 11 in Pennsylvania|U.S. 11]] and Hunlock Creek Turnpike are two major thoroughfares which run through the township. Several major creeks also flow through the municipality (e.g., [[Hunlock Creek]], [[Roaring Brook (Hunlock Creek)|Roaring Brook]], and [[Lewis Run (Roaring Brook)|Lewis Run]]).

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|2000= 2568
|2010= 2443
|2020= 2215
|estyear=2021
|estimate=2218
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2020-2021"/>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,568 people, 952 households, and 753 families living in the township.  The population density was {{convert|120.6|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  There were 988 housing units at an average density of {{convert|46.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The racial makeup of the township was 98.83% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.12% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.04% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.43% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], and 0.58% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.04% of the population.

There were 952 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 17.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.  The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the township the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.9% who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.8 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.3 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $38,309, and the median income for a family was $41,071. Males had a median income of $28,641 versus $23,611 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the township was $15,541.  About 6.7% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
Hunlock Township is part of [[Northwest Area School District]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Luzerne County, Pennsylvania}}

{{coord|41|14|00|N|76|07|59|W|type:city_region:US-PA_source:GNIS-enwiki|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Townships in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania]]
[[Category:Townships in Pennsylvania]]